Are you talking the Astartes jump pack? or the standard backpack?

Definitely the jump pack. I can see where that needed some clarification, as a Tau-ified version of the Astartes back/power-pack might be cool in some instances (like in the Dornian Heresy artwork) I want a different feel by blending the shape of the Imperial jump pack with our jet pack.

It will take some integration of the two styles, but given the simplicity of the Tau aesthetic should be easier than say; creating a crisis suit sized marine.

modelglue

Hello ATT,

It has been awhile. Now that life is settling down again (I hope) I've had a chance to get back to my project.

Here are some pics I shot on my phone in the basement. I'll do some glamour shots once I've got more work done and I figure out how...















C+C welcome as usual.

modelglue

Ooooo pretty awesome. Can't wait to see him finished!

That is some beautiful and top-notch work. I eagerly await more results.

I quite enjoyed reading that fiction, modelglue. We're gonna hear more about this planet's fate with the rest of your Cadre, right? I'm interested to see why the Eldar are involved. They sound like they might be slightly tainted by the Warp, too..

Awesome model, as well. You really kept the putty very smooth and precise, far better than I could manage. As this is going to be a diorama, how large are you thinking of making the base?

Thank you E'nigma, Agentarrow, and Militant.Jester.

Yes, I have some more fluff on deck M.J, so please be patient while I let it gestate.

At the moment I have him sitting on a 60mm base, I had sort of scrapped The idea of a diorama scene due to the fact that he couldn't be played with if I set him on such a large base. I may just use said size and make some scenic improvements by way of rubble/equipment.

Stay tuned, and I definitely appreciate the attention... it drives me.

modelglue

What I do if I make a diorama base is makw the model removable (via magnets, pins, flight sticks, ect) and just create a matching gaming base, so everyone in my dioramas can be played. Maybe consider something like that?

Well if you're up for a challenge... one time I saw this diorama set at the Ford of Bruinen from Lord of the Rings (I think) with the models on their standard bases, fitted into little sockets on the diorama base so they could still be removed and played with. Just a thought. Either way, looking forward to it.

Sounds like I can amalgamate your ideas into one and have the best of both Worlds here.

This will give me the room I need to have the model combating some regular infantry models and expand the story line with it.

Thank you both for the help!

Here's a peek of what I have planned for my winter project, I should get two of these just before Christmas:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dreamforge-games/something-wicked-this-way-comes-crusader-plastic-m

These will be a nice addition to the true scale Astartes army I have planned. The best thing about projects like this is that they build momentum and confidence to carry on and develop new things for us hobbyists.

If I have the $ available later I might go for a third and try for a tau/knight paladin combat maquette.

modelglue

Hello ATT friends,

I have come to a point with this project and I would like to call my XV suit "finished".

Below are some pics of my model and craftworld themed base. The base took me a long time to resolve, I had made 4 or 5 of them and I just wasn't pleased with any until this one. I still am not 100% convinced this was the best result but, life goes on.

Please don't mind the photos, it is my first shot with the new SLR and I am very amateur photographer. Comments, questions, criticism and advice is welcome and appreciated.



















modelglue

He looks really great, but I can't help thinking he looks really monotone. Some contrasting sept lines or some secondary coloured patches might add a little more visual variety to him.

Thanks, Carrelio.

I'm not sure I would want to mask off an area or panel and add a complimentary color to him, I feel like you are referencing the forgeworld paint jobs that show each of these suits with a dark red panel on the typical Tau color ochre. I did a lot of the "typical" GW paint jobs back when I started in 40K, but since then I have tired of the fun and bright schemes out there and wanted to try something more realistic and parallel to my historical model painting endeavors. Hence the drab, flat, minimalist scheme you see here. Befitting an insurgent operative methinks.

In any case I appreciate your input, and rest assured I will take your advice with my next project and add a little more flair. After reviewing the pics I snapped, my fiance expressed to me how "washed out" and "over-exposed" the images were... perhaps this is part of the problem? I'll try again another day.

modelglue

This could very well be part of the issue, good photos make for good sharing. I can't help but also feel that he's a little "too" drab. Not saying that you have to add any kind of bright color. In fact, what I had in mind is quite the opposite. Since your model is such a warm beige / off-white but you want to keep it realistic and such I think that you have two reliable options to add interest while not detracting from the plausibility of the model. Adding some accents of either a deep brown or a cool grey will be the best compromise between the two extremes. Each adds interest to the model in its own way, the grey through the contrast between warm shades and cool shades (The most appealing color schemes, if you notice, have usually 1-2 warm colors and 1-2 cool colors because they offset so well.) If you wish to go this route, I would suggest something with more purple hue as opposed to blue hue. Your color has predominantly yellow pigment, so a violet-grey will contrast nicely and compliment the model well. As for brown, it's still a warm color but this time you're playing with opposing lightness as opposed to opposing hue. A deep brown adds some dark panels to the model and is also more plausible than a cool grey because it's a more natural color. Either way I think that the model needs something to add to its interest but as you said, this could be as simple as a better photo.

Thanks for the feedback AA! I always appreciate your insight whether it be regarding my project or any other of the excellent ones out there.

Ironically, I have a ForgeWorld Broadside done in the manner you suggested, deep brown accents and all. I didn't like the scheme and even went so far as to strip it down to start over. I feel like I should maybe give it one more chance though, as you have gone to great effort to describe the visual effect it will have.

Thanks again for your thoughts... always appreciated.

modelglue

You don't need to change your scheme too much. If you just had some Lead belcher in appropriate areas and wash it with nuln oil, the dark tone of that could create contrasting shapes on your overall color palette. Get it in the joints and you're good. If you want to push it maybe go for a purple like the one you used in your optics.

Hey Sgt, I'm not too sure what those colors would end up looking like since I'm not all that familiar with the new range. Could you elaborate or point me to a post that maybe uses this combo?

modelglue

I'm not familiar with the newest range of GW paints so I'm not sure about lead belcher, but Nuln Oil is the black shade. It's essentially a replacement for badab black wash, but slightly thinner. If applied sparingly they can really make a model pop. I would probably recommend a drown shade over a black but that is ultimately up to you. Once I have a bit more time today I'll mock up something in photoshop so you don't have to paint a real model.

Leadbelcher is the new boltgun.

I'm basically saying make joints metallic with a black wash. That would break down some of the areas so that its not all one color.